The first international break of 2026 is here and a host of our stars are still looking to book their place at the World Cup this summer.
Riccardo Calafiori‘s Italy, Christian Norgaard‘s Denmark and Viktor Gyokeres‘ Sweden are all vying to reach the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States through the European play-offs.
They’ll be in semi-final action in the first week of the break, and should their nations progress, they’ll then face a do-or-die final qualifier on Tuesday, 31 March for a spot in the finals. If they get eliminated in the semis, they’ll instead play a friendly game that evening against another beaten side.
Elsewhere, several of our players are taking part in the international friendlies as nations prepare their sides for the summer’s showpiece event.
Cristhian Mosquera has received his first call-up to the Spanish national team, joining David Raya and Martin Zubimendi in the squad. Mikel Merino’s injury ruled him out of selection.
Piero Hincapie will meet up with the Ecuador squad to take on Morocco in Madrid, Spain, and the Netherlands in Eindhoven.
Ben White has received his first call-up to the England national team since 2022. Our full-back will join up with Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and You Maduek in Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Read more
White replaces Eze in England squad for friendlies
Kai Havertz has been called up to the Germany team for the first time since 2024, with Gabriel Martinelli is in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad.
Myles Lewis-Skelly and Tommy Setford are in the England under-21 squad, with Max Dowman in the under-19 set-up.
FULL LIST OF CONFIRMED INTERNATIONAL GAMES
*all times UK
Wednesday, March 25
England U19 (Dowman) v Serbia U19
Euro U19 Qualifier | Guimaraes, Portugal | 11am
Thursday, March 26
Denmark (Norgaard) v North Macedonia
World Cup qualifier | Copenhagen | 7.45pm
Italy (Calafiori) v Northern Ireland
World Cup qualifier | Bergamo | 7.45pm
Ukraine v Sweden (Gyokeres)
World Cup qualifier | Valencia, Spain | 7.45pm
Brazil (Martinelli) v France
Friendly | Boston, USA | 8pm
Friday, March 27
Andorra U21 v England U21 (Setford, Lewis-Skelly)
Euro U21 qualifier | Andorra | 6.30pm
England (Saka, Madueke, White, Rice) v Uruguay
Friendly | Wembley | 7.45pm
Switzerland v Germany (Havertz)
Friendly | Basel | 8pm
Spain (Raya, Zubimendi, Mosquera) v Serbia
Friendly | Villarreal | 8pm
Morocco in Ecuador (Hincapie)
Friendly | Madrid, Spain | 8.15pm
Saturday, March 28
England U19s (Dowman) v Poland U19s
Euro U19 Qualifier | Guimaraes, Portugal | 11am
Monday, March 30
Germany (Havertz) v Ghana
Friendly | Stuttgart | 7.45pm
Tuesday, March 31
Portugal U19s v England U19s (Dowman)
Euro U19 Qualifier | Guimaraes, Portugal | 4pm
England U21s (Lewis-Skelly, Setford) v Moldova U21s
Euro U21 qualifier | Norwich | 7pm
England (Saka, Madueke, Rice, White) v Japan
Friendly | London | 7.45pm
Netherlands v Ecuador (Hincapie)
Friendly | Eindhoven | 7.45pm
Spain (Mosquera, Raya, Zubimendi) v Egypt
Friendly | Cornella | 8 p.m
Wednesday, April 1
Brazil (Martinelli) v Croatia
Friendly | Orlando USA | 1am
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